Hygienic hinged toilet seat with a vertically neutral position

ABSTRACT

A hygienic hinged toilet seat with a vertically neutral position is provided. Specifically, the toilet seat assembly of the instant invention utilizes a spring biased hinge to hold a toilet lid in a vertical position relative to the toilet seat bowl. Force can be exerted on the toilet seat lid to urge the lid into a horizontal position relative to the toilet seat bowl if a user desires to sit on the lid. The spring biased hinge is enclosed in a watertight housing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/072,555, filed Oct. 30, 2014.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to a toilet seat and, more specifically, a mechanism to maintain a toilet seat in a vertical position when force is not used to move the toilet seat into a parallel position relative to the toilet bowl surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As medical science becomes more cognizant regarding transfer of germs, many healthy habits have been adopted for both self-defense and prevention of the spreading of germs. Such processes often include basic activities, such as the covering of one's nose and mouth to prevent the spread of germs from host to friend, relative, or co-worker. Others are focused on prevention of contracting disease through proper hand-washing or use of anti-bacterial agents. However, a need exists in the art to provide a hygienic toilet seat solution that can decrease contact with foreign bodily fluids while also reducing significant cost to the implementer of the solution. A further need exists in the art to find a solution that avoids introducing fluids, bodily or otherwise, into the mechanism used to solve the aforementioned problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are obtained by a toilet seat assembly comprising a hinge biased spring enclosed in a watertight housing. The hinge biased spring has a first end attached to a toilet seat lid and a second end attached to a toilet bowl with a pair of mounting screws. The mounting screws enclosed in the watertight housing. According to another embodiment of the instant invention, the pair of mounting screws are enclosed in a separate watertight housing from the watertight housing used to enclose the hinge biased spring.

Other features and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from their application of ordinary skill to the description and drawings contained herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a left side elevational view according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view according to one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view according to one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view according to one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view according to one aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A passive and automatic device which causes the toilet seat to remain in the upright vertical position when not in use is described herein. This orientation prevents unwanted urine and bodily fluids from collecting on the surface. Users who wish to utilize the seat can easily bring the seat down to its lowered position by applying force to urge the toilet seat to the desired position. After use, the toilet seat will softly and automatically return to its upright, vertical position. This prevents the indifferent male user from soiling the seat while urinating in a standing position.

The streamlined invention is designed to promote cleanliness without being a constant burden to the maintainer of the facility. This is accomplished in two ways: sturdy construction and hygienic design.

In the preferred embodiment, parts of this invention subject to corrosion are to be concealed within a chamber so as to prevent rusting and deterioration due to environmental factors. Installation will be easy and universal for most every toilet application. Plastic mounting screws are housed within a hinged plastic enclosure, preserving its hygienic properties.

The invention utilizes a spring biased hinge. In a preferred embodiment, the spring biased hinge takes the form of the hinge disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,628, the description of the preferred embodiments of such hinge in the cited patent is incorporated herein by reference.

Turning to FIG. 1, there is a toilet generally indentified by reference numeral 10. Lid 20 is attached to spring biased hinge 30. Spring biased hinge 30 is attached to toilet 10. As depicted in solid lines, lid 20 is shown in the upright position. As force is applied, lid 20 can be held in a horizontal position 40. Position 50 shows lid 20 in transition from a vertical state to horizontal position 40.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is a top plan view of toilet 10. Spring biased hinge 30 is attached to toilet 10 by a pair of plastic mounting screws 60 which are housed within a watertight enclosure. Spring biased hinge 30 is depicted in a watertight enclosure in FIG. 5. In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, both the spring biased hinge 30 and the pair of plastic mounting screws 60 are enclosed within the same watertight enclosure. In another embodiment, the spring biased hinge 30 and the pair of plastic mounting screws 60 are enclosed in separate watertight housings. In another embodiment, a standard screw, washer and nut assembly commonly used in the art is utilized to attach spring biased hinge 30 to the toilet 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, toilet 10 is depicted with lid 20 attached to spring biased hinge 30. Plastic mounting screws 60 are shown connecting spring biased hinge 30 to toilet 10.

Referring to FIG. 4, spring biased hinge 30 is shown in a perspective view in an unattached configuration.

While not depicted, the toilet seat assembly of the instant invention can be used on a plurality of lids attached to the same toilet. It is commonly known in the art that toilets may have a cover lid and a toilet seat, each typically capable of being raised independently of the other with a hinge attachment. In another embodiment of the instant invention, two hinge assemblies (each such assembly comprising a spring biased hinge 30 and plastic mounting screws 60) can be utilized in order to act upon a cover lid and a toilet seat lid 20. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toilet seat assembly comprising: a hinge biased spring enclosed in a watertight housing; said hinge biased spring having a first end attached to a toilet seat lid and a second end attached to a toilet bowl with a pair of mounting screws; and said mounting screws enclosed in said watertight housing.
 2. A toilet seat assembly comprising: a hinge biased spring enclosed in a first watertight housing; said hinge biased spring having a first end attached to a toilet seat lid and a second end attached to a toilet bowl with a pair of mounting screws; and said mounting screws enclosed in a second watertight housing. 